Carmen Lezeth Suarez – Adviser, Writer, Performer

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NEWS

At the end of the day, it’s all about the joy! I’ll update this page as a I go along on my travels, creating, speaking, learning, working, etc. Anything “newsworthy” I’ll share — If you have any questions, please, just ask! carmen@carmensuarez.com

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(March 2019) Two speaking events in Boston, Massachusetts. Talking with Students about the book CANELA with high school students with the Dedham Youth Commission and then over at Roxbury Prep with 7th & 8th Graders. An amazing time, a learning moment for me — and validation that the work I’m now doing is absolutely worthy of my time and effort. So grateful!

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(February 2019) Meeting up with fellow speakers to get insights and ideas. Great networking opportunity. What a great group of people — doing good work as presenters, speakers, performers. So glad I found this group. The Orange Country Speakers Network – considering developing a similar group here in my neighborhood on the Westside. Great group. Looking forward to monthly events.

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(September 2019) Photo shoot with the amazing Michael Roud. Make-up artist Penelope Vazquez was on fire! I have done many photo shoots, but this might have been one of my favorites. Hoping the pics come out okay. I had the best time, so I’m hoping YES!

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(August 2018) Visited friends in Vermont and went home to Boston to meet up with many people who are in my book, CANELA. What an amazing experience! Everyone’s read the book and had so many different perspectives. WOW.

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(June 2018) My Book CANELA has arrived at my door and is live on Amazon! I’m not sure what else to say. I’m a bit overwhelmed, there have been tears of joy and a sense of accomplishment and…a little fear. Ha! It’s been a long process — and it’s finally here!

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(July 2017) Visiting a part of CANADA I’ve never been too — and I think I’m in love. Tiny, Ontario. I want to move here. On the one hand, Justin Trudeau. On the the other: there’s the snow thing… Hmmm. Leaving from here to Minneapolis, MN. Why? Well, when in Rome, one must Visit Prince’s Paisley Park / Home. Update: AMAZING. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

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(March 2017) It took a long time to find the right person, but I finally had a meeting with my new book editor, Andy Futuro. I’m excited to work with him and looking forward to getting my book finished and published, if all goes well, in mid 2018. Crossing fingers!

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(February 2017) Just wrapped filming “Miss Rivers” directed by Quinnolyn Benson-Yates, produced by Brady Mears and Emily Lerner. I played the role of Rhea Rivers, artist, photographer and mother. It filmed in Santa Barbara and was probably one of the best all-around film shoots I’ve had. Great crew and brilliant cast. Truly couldn’t ask for anything more —- I love when work is so easy, so perfect and just feels so good!

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(November 2016) Exercised my acting chops in a play at the Santa Monica Playhouse working on the production, “Make It” written by Evelyn Rudie, Directed by Chris DeCarlo. I played a woman distraught by my body, my career, my life — and finding my way back. A great experience, a wonderful collaborative effort and maybe the most eclectic group of actors I’ve met yet!

(August 2015) Filmed my cool emotional part on Other People directed by Chris Kelly of SNL fame. And although I had to wait forever to finally shoot my part — once we got to it, I was on fire! All the training, all the hours, all the money invested, I got to see tangibly how it worked for me. At the end of the day though, my scene never made it onto the screen. Trials and tribulations of an actor. Onward and upward…

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(August 2015) Director Kai Towns cast me in the role of Aunt Tamara in the film Transcend. Wrapped this weekend. Fun Cast! Moving story line. Made a lot of new friends. Can’t wait to see the film.

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(July 2015) Met Kai Towns on the set of B-Nasty. At the time, Kai was part of the crew. I was contacted directly by Kai on facebook to Audition for the project Transcend. Beautiful story about a young man coming to terms with his families denial of his truth. Hope I get the part! (Either way, loved that I got a call from a network opportunity – see, you never know who you might meet on set! Brilliant!).

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(May 2015) Finished my one night shoot of Jackson Young’s B-Nasty. So much fun! Beautiful cast of very talented young actors. Loved being around such a cool people. Great choreography of fight scenes. Long night shoot till the wee hours of the morning. I love this job.

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(May 2015) Got an email from Jackson Young, director for a film I auditioned for back in January and didn’t get. His email asked if I’d like to play the role of Chicken Mama in his new film B-Nasty. No audition needed. Just offering me the part if I wanted it! Of course I said, YES! I play a mother about to see her kid get into a huge fight — lots of screaming & concern involved. Can’t wait to film.

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(October 2014) Filmed SuperWash directed by Paul Kowalski. Played a long time dream role of Super Woman. Check out the blog for some pics from the shoot!

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(September 2014) Auditioned and booked a role with Director Paul Kowalski. Filming begins mid-October. So excited! More details to come. Pssst…I always wanted to play a Super Hero! 😉

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Attended the4th Annual Poker Classic to support the Don LaFontaine Voice-Over Lab. (August 2014). Met so many celebs and so many amazing people who work in the Voice-Over world! Great networking event and an even better dance party. Oh, yeah and at some point people played poker. Uhm, I danced the night away! So. Much. Fun! I love this town and I’m fiercely a fan of creative folks (in case there was any question)!

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Walgreen’s Commercial and Callback (June 2014). I’m putting this in the “win” column. Although booking the spot would have been clearly gravy, this was a great first audition & callback with my new agents (who I love!). It was also a wonderful first meet with famed casting director Dan Bell who might have the most spectacular casting offices over in Glendale, Dan Bell Casting. I look forward to seeing them again real soon!

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Signed with The Baldwin Talent Agency! (May 2014) Met with a few reps at different agencies for commercial representation, but walked in the door and knew right away that this was the place for me. Lyn and Patrick are amazing! Easy breezy!

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Booked a Voice-Over gig! (May 2014): It’s the little things that rock my world. Working on a animated project with some fabulous peeps. Project under wraps as the updating of this news item, but pssst…. it’s gaming! Woohoo! I’ll keep you posted!

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Started my own Production Company (March 2014): Carmen Lezeth Productions. So excited. Developing short vids on a concept called “Carmenisms.” Samples are on the website. Working hard, having fun, but wish me well anyways!

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In a Play (summer 2013) called NICKEL AND DIMED by Joan Holden, based on the book by Barbara Ehrenreich. The play was directed by Richard Kilroy, produced by Bill Hemmer and was at the wonderful Hudson Theatre in Hollywood. First show was July 18th 2013 and ran thru August 25th 2013. It was a very timely piece and a great play. Check out my stellar reviews on my STAGE page. I’m so humble, huh? 🙂

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Finished my first manuscript! Took a year off to complete. Amazingly satisfying! Read my blog about some cool learning moments (Click Here). Hoping to get an Editor soon. As things progress, I’ll keep you all posted. Now back to performing!

Booked the role of Dr. Nina Cooper for the film Intimate Madness, now called Absolute Madness. Directed by K. Hynes, produced by Just Kill Productions. Filming took place over a two month period – what an amazing ride! I love this job! Lucky me!

I had so much fun on set it was incredible! I played one of eight people in a group therapy session and for what it’s worth, I love when that I got to work with Monica Potter and Peter Krause. Monica is hilarious! I sat next to her all day, watched her work, and learned so very much! She really seems to be a very funny and a wonderful person. Actually, the whole set “vibed” that way – Great production! Great day!

Honestly, not my favorite day at all! But a day I volunteered for an amazing organization and project. Don’t get me wrong, as always, the crew was amazing! It was just a hot day – an extremely hot day and as actors always know, there was a lot of “hurry up and then wait” kinda action. Boring, boring and boring. But in the end – you see what was produced and I can’t help but sit back and be grateful to have been a part of it!

There are certain moments when you’re in the presence of greatness and all you can do is be stunned and do your best to pretend you’re not! Like it’s an everyday thing to be around such folk! I got to work with the great Greg Gorman AND…wait for it… Ms. Diane Lane on this shoot and am still beside myself that I had such an honor. Oh, yeah, and it was for a wonderful campaign too!

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The Veiled Commodity, Short Animation, Dir. Vinh-Dickson

Had the pleasure to work with two very dynamic directors on this project for an amazing cause: the one of eliminating what’s termed: modern day slavery. I loved doing the narration, however, was far more intrigued by the process since I was able to watch it evolve from the very beginning. An amazing learning moment on so many levels!

This is one of those moments that all actors PRAY for. I had been cast an extra to fill up a restaurant dining scene. The actor who had lines just couldn’t get it right and after much frustration, the director of the scene came over to me and without saying a word, tapped me on the shoulder, motioned for me to follow, removed the other actor, had me sit down in her place and gave me the line to repeat. Of course, everyone in the room could have said it by that point we’d heard it so many times at that point, albeit wrong…and so, it became my line. One take. Priceless!

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Nineteen, Daddy’s Girl Prds., Dir. P. Reed

I played the younger sister who more than disagreed with her older sister’s viewpoints on taking care of their parent. This was one of the first times I auditioned for something and knew I could easily do the part. Maybe I just “thought” I could do the part. It didn’t end up being easy at all! As all actors know, there really is no such thing as an “easy” part (well, maybe that’s just me). Regardless, I had a very emotional “firey” scene in this film about Alzheimer’s and how it affects the family. To this day, I take everything I learned from that shoot with me…I learned oh so much! (Thank you Daddy’s Girl Prds.!).

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Volkswagen Series, Arnold Worldwide, Dir. Jens Gehlhaar & Ben Go

Up until this point, I had been doing voice-over work just for fun and with very little thought of pursing it further. But, after being asked to participate in the VW Passat Feature campaign, it was obvious to me (and everyone else) that I had found a new love! This was also my very first SPANISH voice-over. Hilarious! Thanks for that BNS!